In honor of International Women’s History Month, we asked some of our students to
share who their women mentors are in the College of Arts and Sciences. We’re proud
to recognize Dr. Tracey Walters, associate professor and chair of the Department of
Africana Studies. “I
am lucky to have lived a life surrounded by so many amazing women who inspire me
every day, from my own mother to my daughters and many friends,” she told us. “I have
never regarded my gender as something that holds me back from doing anything I desire.”
Read our interview with Dr. Walters below.

Tracey Walters

What does your department do to recognize faculty, staff, and students during Women’s
History Month?

Excellent question. Many of us participate in Women's History Month events across
campus, but we don't do anything specific for students, staff, or faculty in the department.
We do so much for Black History Month that we don't redirect our focus (on a departmental
level) to Women's History Month. You've certainly given us something to think about
for next year.

Who in the College of Arts and Sciences would you most want to recognize during Women’s
History Month in terms of their contributions?

There are many dynamic women scholars and administrators I'd like to honor, it's hard
to choose one! Without hesitation, I have to go with Lois Carter, Assistant Dean for
Faculty Affairs. Lois is an amazing woman with an incredible work ethic. Her position
comes with a lot of pressure and responsibility, but she makes it look so easy. Despite
the demands of her job, she's always generous and patient. I don't know how CAS would
function without Lois. The faculty owes so much to her efficiency. She's the first
line of defense for our tenure files, she's a liaison between the faculty and the
Dean, and she has an institutional memory that's beyond valuable. Her contributions
to SBU are countless.

Do you think Women's History Month is a good way to empower young women and tomorrow’s
women leaders?

Much like BHM, WHM remains essential. Each and every day women make significant contributions
to our society, but they are not always acknowledged for the impactful work they produce.
It's a sad reality that we still have to mark the occasion when women break into industries
and become the "first" to hold a position of influence. We're also still rewriting
"herstories" so that women's contributions to history do not remain dormant. Let's
not forget what happens to women on the margins, especially women of color and transwomen.
These women are often rendered invisible. Think about the pioneering work of African
American scientist/mathematician Katherine Johnson. For almost fifty years, Johnson
's trailblazing work on NASA's first space exploration was unknown to the general
public. It took the film
Hidden Figures to bring her story to light. Spotlighting the achievements of women is empowering
because it reminds women of their capabilities. Documentaries, special assemblies,
and lectures inspire and empower women to reach for their goals. Knowing there's a
path forward and seeing that others have made it gives women hope.

How do you interpret the word word “feminist?” Do you consider yourself a feminist?

There are still stereotypes attached to feminism (e.g., feminists are radical man-haters),
but most people understand why some women and men embrace the term. It's not just
about empowerment, it's also about advocacy. For a younger generation, participating
in the recent Women's Marches, as well as learning about the work of Ruth Bader Ginsberg
and the current discourse on Roe v. Wade, the current Democratic race for a Presidential
nominee, and Title IX laws, have made feminism more palatable and much more respected.
I was a late-blooming feminist. While my actions and beliefs may have been feminist
in orientation, I didn't consciously appropriate the language of feminism until graduate
school. Feminism is not a one-size-fits-all ideology, especially for black women.
It's important to recognize the historical exclusionary practices of feminist movements
- especially first- and second-wave feminist movements. Earlier on, white women failed
to recognize the voices and concerns of women of color. We had to fight to make space
within the movement, or we opted to do our own thing - think Combahee River Collective
or The Crunk Feminist collective.

What do you think is the next step for women’s rights activists?

Women's rights activists have different agendas. For many, the personal is political,
so they fight for what's happening individually or within their own communities. There's
a lot of work to be done. We can't ignore the intersectional oppression of marginalized
women who aren't simply fighting for a seat at the table in corporate America. I'm
thinking about what's happening with Native American women. Right now there's an epidemic.
Young Native American women in New Mexico and other states are being murdered or reported
missing, and the local and Federal governments are not doing enough to help these
communities. Black infant mortality is alarming and Black women are two to six times
more likely to die from complications in pregnancy than white women. Domestic workers,
many of them Black and Brown women, continue to fight for Federally-protected labor
laws that ensure a living wage and an exploitation-free work environment. There's
also a lot of work about women and prison reform that's also happening - Angela Davis
has been doing this work for many years. The list is endless. Women involved in Black
Lives Matter have been instrumental because they've bundled social justice reform
with educational, health, labor, and environmental concerns. I haven't even started
to address what's happening globally or the work around transwomen who are being murdered
without retribution or even media coverage.

If you had to choose one feminist that you admire above all others, who would they
be and why?

Unfair question. My mind goes to Angela Davis, Audre Lorde, and then Wangari Maathai.
Thinking more deeply, though, I have to say Claudia Jones. She was a Caribbean socialist
feminist - very provocative in today's world. She was a remarkable woman who fought
for the everyday black woman in America and across the diaspora, especially domestic
workers. While I might get hate, I have to add Beyonce. She's not an obvious choice,
but her brand of feminism is appealing to a lot of people. In the words of Roxane
Gay, she’s a "bad feminist" feminist!

What is one piece of advice you would give to the young women of Stony Brook?

Mentorship is invaluable to success. I've been lucky to have amazing mentors and role
models who have encouraged me along the way. It's one of the reasons why I have mentored
so many of our students. Seeking out an amazing woman who can help you identify your
goals and give you the strategies to find success is important. Mentorship does not
have an expiration date. We can all learn from those who are older, wiser, or more
experienced.